Meet the fleet of King Charles’ ex-girlfriends – including one he proposed to Princess Diana

When it comes to the ladies in King Charles’ life, three names come to mind: his first wife Princess Diana, his second wife Queen Camilla, and his late mother Queen Elizabeth II. But before Charles “settled down” with Diana (make those quotes Overtime), he was known as the most eligible bachelor in the world and earned a reputation as the “playboy prince” thanks to the sheer number of women he dated. Most of them have been spotted accompanying him to various, er, romantic (?) polo matches.

According to Charles’ valet (in Sarah Bradford’s biography Diana), he had a very specific “recipe for the perfect woman” (ew) which included her being “tall, blonde, curvaceous and with an English pink complexion”. Ah. So much could be said and analyzed about it, but keep it up! Here’s a comprehensive list of everyone Charles has publicly dated – and FYI, much of that information is sourced from Bradford’s bio, which you can buy right here:

Bettina Lindsay

Charles and Bettina were linked after they were spotted performing together in a concert in 1970. Of course, we’re not sure if they were in a full blown relationship, but Dad snapped a picture of them on the way back from the show!

Lucy Santa Cruz

Lucia is said to have been Prince Charles’ college sweetheart (this photo of them was taken in 1970), but ironically, she’s actually the one who introduced him to…

Camilla Shand

Also known as Queen Camilla. Charles and Camilla met at a polo match in 1970 (where else?) and instantly bonded – but the beginnings of their relationship are honestly one huge saga with a love square, so read all about it here. The point is that they didn’t meet for a loooong time and Charles went out with a lot of other women after that.

Amanda Knatchbull

Amanda is the granddaughter of Lord Mountbatten, Charles’ godfather to whom he was incredibly close. Apparently, Mountbatten really wanted Charles and Amanda to get married, and they dated on and off from 1974 to 1979. And Charles actually proposed! But according to the book, Amanda “turned him down” because she “wasn’t ready to step on the royal treadmill.” I mean fair.

The story goes on

Lady Jane Wellesley

Lady Jane was the daughter of the Duke of Wellington, and apparently she and Charles were vaguely dating, but it ended up being more of a “just friends” vibe.

Georgiana Russell

No information on their relationship (and no pictures!) except for Bradford writing that Georgiana “got tired of standing in cold Scottish rivers and married someone else.”

Sabrina Guiness

Not much information on their relationship either, but apparently they had one!

Davina Sheffield

Reportedly, Davina and Charles “appeared to be ready for the wedding,” and she was even invited to lunch with the Queen. Buuuuut, then one of her former friends apparently told the press that they had been living together, and the whole thing was called off because “Charles couldn’t afford to marry anyone who might cause any kind of scandal.”

Lady Leonora Grosvenor

The Royals wanted Charles to marry Lady Leonora, but she married the Queen’s cousin Womp instead (that’s what they are at their wedding ^).

Anna Wallace

Charles and Anna met on the hunting field (hot!) and she also got pretty close with the royals, scoring a coveted lunch with the Queen. But Anna ended things after falling out with Charles on the Queen Mother’s 80th birthday and again at a polo ball (to be fair, Charles ignored her to hang out with Camilla).

Jane Ward

A brief relationship, but a well-documented one!

Sarah Spencer

Yes, Charles was dating Princess Diana’s older sister Lady Sarah Spencer in 1977, but she just wasn’t that into him. As she told a magazine, “I’m not in love with Prince Charles. I am a whirlwind lady as opposed to a slow developing person. I can assure you that if there were any engagement between Prince Charles and I would have happened by now. I wouldn’t marry anyone I didn’t love, be it the garbage man or the king of England.

Princess Diana

We have a full breakdown of how Diana met Charles here, but it went down in November 1977 when Charles visited the Spencer family home in Althorp for a pheasant hunt. They reunited in 1979 after the death of Lord Mountbatten and the rest is (not so great) history.

And that’s that! You officially know more about King Charles dating history than you ever hoped.

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